Level.



T. M. BANE.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19,1912

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

JMZdJMfld/lt; Witnesses 0 Inventor I I f 0 Attorneys count-IA PLANmnu-n couvlmfim'rou, D. c.

TOBIAS M. BANE, OF PULASKI, VIRGINIA.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lteb. 2 1-, 19141;.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Tomas M. Bane, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pulaski, in the county of Pulaski and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in levels for use by artisans in the construction of walls, roofs, and other structures and which is likewise capable of use in the construction of roads or, in fact, wherever it may be desirable to use a level.

One of its objects is to provide a structure of this type which can be used for accurately determining the necessary vertical adjustment of the low end of a sill or other timber or the like in order to bring the same into a level position.

A further object is to provide, in a single tool, means whereby more than the ordinary accuracy can be employed in determining whether or not a surface is level.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character which can be readily stored within a tool bag or chest.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool with the levels swung apart to a slight extent, the position of the arcuate arm, when not in use, being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the tool. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the chart used in connection with the tool. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the hinged ends of the levels.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a bar corresponding with that of which a spirit level is ordinarily formed, said bar having a recess 2 in its upper edge receiving the spirit level A channel 1 is preferably formed longitudinally in the opposed edge of the bar 1 and is provided to facilitate the use of the level upon a convex surface. Another bar 4 similar to the bar 1 is hingedly connected, as at :3, to one end of the bar 1 and is provided, in its outer face with a transverse recess 6 within which is arranged a tube '7 of the spirit level. A longitudinal channel 8 is formed within said outer face or edge of the bar and extending across the ends of this channel are sight plates 9 having openings therein.

Bin arcuate arm 10 is pivotallv connected to the bar 1 as indicated at 11 and has an arcuate slot 1 through which projects a clamping screw 13. This screw is adapted to be placed in engagement with the bar 1 either at a point close to the recess 6, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, or when the tool is not in use, in engagement with a nut 11- or the like secured within one side of the bar t adjacent one end. A plate 15 is secured to one end portion of the bar 1. and is divided into spaces by crossed longitudinal and transverse lines, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. This plate laps the bar -11 and constitutes a guide to prevent the bar 1 from being shifted laterally in one direction out of proper position relative to the bar 1.

Arranged within the spaces at one end of the plate 15 are numerals such as indicated at 16, for indicating length, in feet, of timhere or the like. Arranged in those spaces along one side of the chart are additional numerals, such as indicated at 17, and which correspond with numerals arranged adjacent one edge of the arm 10 and which have been indicated at 18. The remaining spaces on the chart contain nmnerals indicating inches, fractions thereof and feet for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It is to be understood that either one of the levels 1 and t can be used as an ordinary level, and when it is desired to take particular care as to the accuracy of the tool, both levels can be used simultaneously while resting one upon the other, as shown in Fig. 2. By using the sight openings in the plates 9, more accurate results can be obtained than by sighting along the upper edge of the level, as ordinarily.

If a timber such as a sill, or in fact any beam or the like should be out of horizontal position and it should be desired to raise one end thereof so as to bring the device into a horizontal position, the present invention can be used efficiently. This is done by placing the lower bar 1 on the timber and then swinging the upper bar 4 about its hinge until the bulb in the tube 7 indicates that the bar 4 is horizontal. Screw 18 is then tightened on the arm 10. If the timber to be adjusted is twelve feet in length and a graduation, designated by the numeral 6 on the arm 10 should register with the lower edge of the bar 4, the operator should then refer to the chart 15 and after finding the numeral 12 among those indicated by the character It should follow alon the column designated by said numeral 12 until he reaches the space opposite the numeral 6 in the column 17. Here will be found the numeral 9 (meaning 9 inches) which will be the distance necessary to elevate the low end of the timber in order to bring its upper face to a horizontal position. Thus it will be seen that a long timber or beam can be readily adjusted without the necessity of utilizing a vertical pole and sighting the same from the high end of the beam or timher to get the distance which the low end must be raised. Obviously this method of finding the level is much more advantageous than the old method because of its simplicity and accuracy.

On the chart 15 it will be noted that in some of the spaces numerals appear above other numerals. The upper numerals in the spaces are used to designate feet while the lower ones are used to designate inches. Where only one numeral or a numeral and a fraction occurs in a space, it designates inches or fractions thereof.

lVhen the tool is not in use, the clamping screw 13 can be disengaged from the bar l and moved into engagement with the nut 14. Thus the arm 10 will be held substantially in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l and the tool can be conveniently stored in a bag or chest.

Preferably two sets of graduations are formed on the arm 10, the graduations des ignated by the numeral 18 being used in connection with the columns of numerals on the chart 15 while the opposed series of graduations designated at 19, are used to designate degrees of a circle. Thus it will be seen that the tool can be used in laying off difierent angles.

\Vhat is claimed is The combination with a lower spirit level having upper and lower faces extended longitudinally along parallel lines, and a plate secured to the side of the spirit level adjacent one end portion and extending upwardly therefrom, of an upper sp' "it level having upper and lower faces extended longitudinally along parallel lines, said upper spirit level being hingedly connected at one end to one end of the lower spirit level and the bottom face of the upper spirit level being adapted to rest snugly upon the top face of the lower spirit level, said plate on the lower spirit level constituting a guide for the upper spirit level during the angular adjustment of said level, a longitudinally slotted curved arm pivotally connected to the lower spirit level, and means extending from the upper spirit level for sliding within the slot and for clamping said arm upon the upper spirit level, said upper spirit level having a longitudinal groove extending throughout the length thereof, and sighting elements extending across the respective end portions of the groove.

In testimony that I claim the fore oing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SELINA lVILLsoN, HERBERT D. LAWSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

